Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-02
SCHOOL INTERESTS NO. 10.
AND COOPERATIVE WITH THE
WORK OF THE TEACHER.

One of the most formidable him
ORANGES to a teachers success in his
school work Is the want of proper
home training by parents. The home
school is preparatory and auxiliary
to our public schools, and If a child is
not properly fitted for the latter, its
department is very likely to disturb
the equilibrium ofgood order through
out the entire room into which 1t has
been entered. Bad influences are
much more easily communicated than
good ones. IF child of this kind is
corrected for a misdemeanOr, the
punishment indeed falls upon it, but
the parents are in all probability the
more culpable party. Those who
know nothing of the trials and diff
culties of the teacher I'm the school
room may think that it is too severe
to censure parents for the faults and
misdemeanors of the child, but the
teacher knows that it is deserved in
the majority Of cases. It is not say
ing too much by affirming that an ex-
perienced teacher can infer the main
traits of character in the parent from
the conduct and habits Of the child.
He obtains knowledge of the nature
of home training without so much as
a peep into the family.
1t is an undeniable fact, and a
lamentable one too, that in this age,
many children have their own way
at home, and, in some instances are
the ruling power in the family
Naturally this spirit accompanies
them into the school-room, where
they become disturbers of the peace,
and when punished they make COM
plant to their indulgent parents
who are but too ready to charge the
teacher with Partially and unfair
ness, based upon the one-sided story
of their pets. Some are so blind to
the faults of their children, and con-
slider them the essence of perfection.
AS an illustration A boy is brought
to school with the recommendatory
remark, You need not be so strict
with Willie, he will not give you any
trouble, for he is a good, quiet and
obedient child" And the first thing,
perhaps, he does after he has heard
his mothers laudatory remark, and
viewed the situation, is to strike up
a talk with Johnny, "pinch !" the
arm of Freddie, or "stick" Harry
Jones with pin.
The family school is the first, not
only in the order of time, but in the
Importance of its agency, and in the
perinanency of the impressions for
good or evil. You see marks of these
impressions in the school, on the citi-
zen in a state, and on the member of
the church. How great, then, the
responsibility resting upon parents
and all those who have an agency in
shaping the plastic mind of the child.
One of the principal sources of evil
habits formed by children is formed
by their contact and association with
each other beyond the family circle.
in places and at hours utterly impro-
per. The domestic group is not kept
sufficiently close together in its own
Businesses. Street life Is the g DEVILS
School" for children, in which they
are taught in various branches of
wickedness both day and night. If
the father IF rebellion and lies does
not directly superintend it, he does
it indirectly and most effectually by
his assistants. Whose fault is it that
this school is so well attended? The
fault lies at the door of parents. Let
each and every family keep their
children from the street, and this
DEVILS school will cease to exist
The influences that go out from ii are
widespread and ruinous to society,
schools, church and state. The
family has, IN many instances, be-
come simply a place for eating and
sleeping; and home place for child
rem to be born and nursed, instead of
a place for pleasant intercourse and
culture; and yet this Is the heaven
appointed place to make men and
women sure candidates for honor here
and glory hereafter.
Do parents presume to excuse them
selves by saying that they cannot
keep their children at home? Let
the pestilential air of the plague be in
our streets, and how SOON the same
parents will shut the door and keep
their children within! But is there
not always moral pestilence in the
streets and on the high-ways-a dam
ger more to be dreaded than the
plague?
But the question may be asked,
shall children always stay at home ?
Shall they have no opportunity at all
for outdoor intercourse and enjoy
ment? l answer, pay your respects
to your neighbors and your friends,
and let warm friendship and vitaliz-
ing intercourse be kept up. Let your
children do the same. Let them do
it acith yo", and as part of you. Let
the little ones mingle together in
and sports. but not in
promiscuous crowds, in improper To-
or at unreasonable hours.
WIN. GERHARDT.